US-12624890-B2 - Home appliance and method of manufacturing the same

US12624890B2US 12624890 B2US12624890 B2US 12624890B2US-12624890-B2

Abstract

A home appliance, includes: a main body; and a door configured to open and close the main body, the door including a door body and a door panel disposed on one side of the door body. The door panel includes: a light-transmissive panel disposed on the one side of the door body, the light-transmissive panel being configured to allow light to pass through; an electrophoretic film disposed between the light-transmissive panel and the door body; a protective plate disposed between the electrophoretic film and the door body, the protective plate being configured to protect the electrophoretic film; and a sealing member disposed along an edge portion of the light-transmissive panel extending outwardly from an edge of the electrophoretic film and an edge of the protective plate, the sealing member being configured to cover the edge of the electrophoretic film and the edge of the protective plate.

Inventors

Kyunghwan Lee
Minkyung Lee
Youngdeog KOH
Kwangjoo KIM
Choongkeon KIM

Assignees

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20231205
Priority Date: 20221214

Claims (20)

1 . A home appliance, comprising: a main body; and a door configured to open and close the main body, the door including a door body and a door panel disposed on one side of the door body; wherein the door panel comprises: a light-transmissive panel disposed on the one side of the door body, the light-transmissive panel being configured to allow light to pass through; an electrophoretic film disposed between the light-transmissive panel and the door body; a protective plate disposed between the electrophoretic film and the door body, the protective plate being configured to protect the electrophoretic film; and a sealing member disposed along an edge portion of the light-transmissive panel extending outwardly from an edge of the electrophoretic film and an edge of the protective plate, the sealing member being configured to cover the edge of the electrophoretic film and the edge of the protective plate.
2 . The home appliance of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is configured to cover a rear surface of the edge portion of the light-transmissive panel facing the door body, and an end surface of the electrophoretic film, the end surface of the electrophoretic film facing outward from the edge of the electrophoretic film in a direction different from a direction in which the rear surface of the edge portion of the light-transmissive panel faces.
3 . The home appliance of claim 1 , wherein the edge of the electrophoretic film extends outwards from the edge of the protective plate, and wherein the sealing member is configured to cover a rear surface of the edge of the electrophoretic film facing the door body and an end surface of the protective plate, the end surface of the protective plate facing outward from the edge of the protective plate in a direction different from a direction in which the rear surface of the edge of the electrophoretic film faces.
4 . The home appliance of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises: a first sealing member configured to cover an end surface of the electrophoretic film and a rear surface of the edge of the electrophoretic film facing the door body, the end surface of the electrophoretic film facing outward from the edge of the electrophoretic film in a direction different from a direction in which the rear surface of the edge of the electrophoretic film faces, and a second sealing member configured to cover an end surface of the protective plate a rear surface of the edge of the protective plate facing the door body, the end surface of the protective plate facing outward from the edge of the protective plate in a direction different from a direction in which the rear surface of the edge of the protective plate faces.
5 . The home appliance of claim 4 , wherein the second sealing member is coupled to the first sealing member, the second sealing member being disposed between at least a portion of the first sealing member and the door body.
6 . The home appliance of claim 1 , further comprising at least one processor configured to output a driving signal of the electrophoretic film, wherein the electrophoretic film comprises a first electrode layer electrically connected to the at least one processor and adjacent to the light-transmissive panel, and a second electrode layer disposed opposite to the first electrode layer and adjacent to the protective plate, wherein the door panel further comprises a connector electrically connecting the at least one processor and the electrophoretic film, the connector comprising a first terminal connected to the first electrode layer and a second terminal connected to the second electrode layer, and wherein the connector is attached to the second electrode layer.
7 . The home appliance of claim 6 , wherein the protective plate comprises a connector opening disposed between at least a portion of the connector and the door body, the connector opening being configured to expose the at least the portion of the connector.
8 . The home appliance of claim 7 , wherein the connector opening extends from the edge of the protective plate toward an inside of the edge of the protective plate.
9 . The home appliance of claim 6 , wherein the electrophoretic film further comprises an electrophoretic layer comprising a color cell configured to accommodate charged particles having colors, the electrophoretic layer being disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and wherein the first electrode layer comprises a first terminal connecting portion provided on a rear surface of the first electrode layer facing the door body to connect to the first terminal, wherein each of the electrophoretic layer and the second electrode layer includes a stepped portion that steps inwardly from an edge of the first terminal connecting portion to allow the first terminal to connect to the first terminal connecting portion.
10 . The home appliance of claim 1 , wherein the door panel further comprises a light blocking layer configured to block propagation of light and to cover a rear surface of the edge portion of the light-transmissive panel facing the door body.
11 . The home appliance of claim 10 , wherein the light blocking layer is disposed between the light-transmissive panel and the sealing member.
12 . A method of manufacturing a home appliance, the method comprising: coupling a light-transmissive panel to one surface of an electrophoretic film such that an edge of the light-transmissive panel is positioned outwardly from an edge of the electrophoretic film, coupling a protective plate to an other surface of the electrophoretic film such that an edge of the protective plate is positioned inwardly from the edge of the electrophoretic film, and sealing an end surface of the electrophoretic film and an end surface of the protective plate by forming a sealing member on a first sealing area disposed along the edge of the electrophoretic film and a second sealing area disposed along the edge of the protective plate, the end surface of the electrophoretic film facing outward from the edge of the electrophoretic film in a direction different from a direction in which the other surface of the electrophoretic film faces, and the end surface of the protective plate facing outward from the edge of the protective plate in a direction different from the direction in which the other surface of the electrophoretic film faces.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the forming the sealing member on the first sealing area and the second sealing area comprises: forming a first sealing member on the first sealing area so as to seal the end surface of the electrophoretic film, and after forming the first sealing member, forming a second sealing member on the second sealing area so as to seal the end surface of the protective plate.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: determining the first sealing area by detecting a boundary between the light-transmissive panel and the electrophoretic film, and determining the second sealing area by detecting a boundary between the electrophoretic film and the protective plate.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining the first sealing area and the determining the second sealing area comprises: photographing rear surfaces of the light-transmissive panel, the electrophoretic film, and the protective plate; determining vertices at the edge of the electrophoretic film based on the photographed image; determining the first sealing area based on the vertices at the edge of the electrophoretic film; determining vertices at the edge of the protective plate based on the photographed image, and determining the second sealing area based on the vertices at the edge of the protective plate.
16 . A home appliance, comprising: an electrophoretic display (EPD) panel forming an exterior of the home appliance; and a base on which the EPD panel is mounted; wherein the EPD panel comprises: a light-transmissive panel disposed on one side of the base, the light transmissive panel being configured to transmit light, an electrophoretic film disposed between the light-transmissive panel and the base, a protective plate disposed between the electrophoretic film and the base, the protective plate being configured to protect the electrophoretic film, and a sealing member; wherein the electrophoretic film comprises: a pair of electrode layers, and an electrophoretic layer comprising a color cell configured to flowably accommodate first charged particles having a first color, and second charged particles having a second color, the second color being different than the first color, the second charged particles having a charge different than that of the first charged particles, the electrophoretic layer being disposed between the pair of electrode layers; and wherein the sealing member covers (i) an edge portion on a rear surface of the light-transmissive panel facing the base, (ii) a cut surface of the electrophoretic film, (iii) an edge portion of a rear surface of the electrophoretic film, and (iv) a cut surface of the protective plate, the cut surface of the electrophoretic film facing outward from an edge of the electrophoretic film in a direction different from a direction in which the rear surface of the light-transmissive panel faces, and the cut surface of the protective plate facing outward from an edge of the protective plate in a direction different from a direction in which the rear surface of the electrophoretic film.
17 . The home appliance of claim 16 , wherein the sealing member comprises: a first sealing member configured to cover the cut surface of the electrophoretic film, the edge portion of the rear surface of the light-transmissive panel, and the edge portion of the rear surface of the electrophoretic film; and a second sealing member configured to cover the cut surface of the protective plate.
18 . The home appliance of claim 17 , wherein the second sealing member is coupled to the first sealing member, the second sealing member being disposed between at least a portion of the first sealing member and the base.
19 . The home appliance of claim 16 , wherein the door panel further comprises a light blocking layer configured to block propagation of light and to cover the edge portion on the rear surface of the light-transmissive panel facing the base.
20 . The home appliance of claim 19 , wherein the light blocking layer is disposed between the light-transmissive panel and the sealing member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under § 365(c), of an International application No. PCT/KR2023/017352, filed on Nov. 2, 2023, which claims priority under 35 U. S. C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0175302, filed on Dec. 14, 2022 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0027896, filed on Mar. 2, 2023, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosed embodiments relates to a home appliance and a method of manufacturing the same. BACKGROUND In general, home appliances are appliances that are primarily used in a user's home to assist in the user's household chores. For example, home appliances include refrigerators, air conditioners, air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, cooking appliances, dishwashers, clothes care appliances, washing machines, and the like. Doors and other panels that form the exterior of a home appliance are typically the most visible parts of the home appliance to users. Accordingly, users may change the exterior design of a home appliance by replacing an exterior panel of the home appliance according to their preferences. However, to change the exterior design of the home appliance by replacing the exterior panel, the exterior panel must be separately prepared and reinstalled, resulting in a loss of cost or time. SUMMARY The disclosed embodiments are directed to providing a home appliance having an improved structure such that an exterior design may be changed without replacing an exterior panel, and a method of manufacturing the same. Further, the disclosed embodiments are directed to providing a home appliance having an improved structure such that power consumption required in a process of changing and maintaining the color of an exterior panel may be reduced, and a method of manufacturing the same. Further, the disclosed embodiments are directed to providing a home appliance having an improved structure to prevent damage to an electrophoretic display panel and to improve the durability or lifespan of a product, and a method of manufacturing the same. Further, the disclosed embodiments are directed to providing a home appliance having an improved structure to improve appearance quality, and a method of manufacturing the same. Further, the disclosed embodiments are directed to providing a home appliance having an improved structure to secure sealing accuracy in a manufacturing operation of an electrophoretic display panel, and a method of manufacturing the same. Technical tasks to be achieved in this document is not limited to the technical tasks mentioned above, and other technical tasks not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. A home appliance, may include a main body; and a door configured to open and close the main body, the door including a door body and a door panel disposed on one side of the door body. The door panel may include a light-transmissive panel disposed on the one side of the door body, the light-transmissive panel being configured to allow light to pass through; an electrophoretic film disposed between the light-transmissive panel and the door body; a protective plate disposed between the electrophoretic film and the door body, the protective plate being configured to protect the electrophoretic film; and a sealing member disposed along an edge portion of the light-transmissive panel extending outwardly from an edge of the electrophoretic film and an edge of the protective plate, the sealing member being configured to cover the edge of the electrophoretic film and the edge of the protective plate. The sealing member may be configured to cover a rear surface of the edge portion of the light-transmissive panel facing the door body, and an end surface of the electrophoretic film, the end surface of the electrophoretic film facing outward from the edge of the electrophoretic film in a direction different from a direction in which the rear surface of the edge portion of the light-transmissive panel faces. The edge of the electrophoretic film may extend outwards from the edge of the protective plate. The sealing member may be configured to cover a rear surface of the edge of the electrophoretic film facing the door body and an end surface of the protective plate, the end surface of the protective plate facing outward from the edge of the protective plate in a direction different from a direction in which the rear surface of the edge of the electrophoretic film faces. The sealing member may include a first sealing member configured to cover an end surface of the electrophoretic film and a rear surface of the edge of the electrophoretic film facing the door body, the end surface of the electrophoretic film facing outward from the edge of the electrophoretic film in a direction different from a direction in which the rear surface of the edge of the electrophoretic film faces,